Bowman Rule now on the books

The so-called NaVorro Bowman rule that allows for loose-ball scrambles to be reviewed by officials was passed at the NFL owners meetings Wednesday.

Bowman’s name got attached to the proposal as a result of a play in the NFC Championship Game against the Seattle Seahawks in January, when the 49ers inside linebacker recovered a fumble near the Seahawks goal line in the process of suffering a season-ending knee injury.

Replays clearly showed that Bowman had possession of the ball and that he was down by contact. However, a Seahawks player wrestled the ball from Bowman as Bowman writhed in pain, and officials allowed the Seahawks to keep possession.

The 49ers were not allowed to challenge the call. Under the new rule, 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh and his coaching peers will be able to challenge such fumble recoveries contested during chaotic scrambles.

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Steve Corkran

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That errant call on Navarro Bowman cost the 49ers a year as the not only the NFC Champions but also as the NFL Champions.
I had difficulty breathing when I saw the replay showing he clearly did recover the ball, and the officials still gave it to the Hawks on the two yard line.
Period.

flaninerfan

Hey NFL how about realizing using part time workers to officiate your games is not a good idea. This is the NFL not High School or the NCAA. Most of your games are close and yes too many outcomes are affected by poor officiating. IE this play (seven officials missed it?) and mis applying the rule when a punters plant foot is hit.

Matthew Lilani

It was a bad call, but it really didn’t cost the 9ers anything since they actually recovered a fumble on the next play that was near the 15 instead of the two. It was the three 4th qtr turnovers that killed their chances, not the blown call.

Julie Felix

Not sure I can agree. Refs made about seven bad calls/non calls in the game….all against the Niners. The face mask on LMJ on the punt and no call. Phantom delay of game against Niners on a thrid and one which led to the Kap fumble on the third and 6). Bowman, punter, missed delay of game on the Seahawks. Phantom call (15 yarder) against Niners at the end of the half causing a huge change of field position. Way too many.

tom Anderson

we got fu@#$ked on that play we would have beating the seaquakes and then Denver in the Super Bowl

DGL510

This is coming from a Raiders fan but…. it was the blown call for running into the kicker rather than roughing the kicker. when the extended leg is hit, its running into and a 5 yard penalty. The defender hit the kickers planted leg. First down. Niners win.

Mike Huston

Got it wrong Tom. You got the ball back one play later with better field position and did nothing with it. The 49ers lost because Kap went against the best CB in the league at exactly the wrong time.
Seahawks beat the hell out the Broncos despite Cam Inman’s lame prediction.

Neil Samra

So glad to see them put this rule in quick. It was so wrong to see a player like Bowman almost loose his career because of a cheap shot and that’s all it was a cheap shot. There has been way to many players that have either had to rehab from this type of BS injury of even worse and loose the rest of there careers due to this type of cheap shot. Hope Bowman recovers well and knowing how tough he is and how good of a work ethic he has he will probably come back better. Good job NFL for putting this rule together quick.

Neil Samra

Your very right bro and to know that’s the play that injured him bad and they didn’t even give him the pick is ridiculous It’s why now they have implemented a new rule where the NFL commitee can overturn the refs call right during the game. I hope Bowman comes back even better and Sherman didn’t win the Hawks the game like the bozo said above your comment, it never comes down to one play, its how the whole game is played.Never one play costs a team a game.